We Thank Thee... Confessions

I have a confession to make.  But before I do I should explain myself...

When I was 12 years old my cousin Deon asked me to play the piano for her wedding.  You might be thinking "wow, I didn't know Jenni was a piano prodigy".  That's because I'm not.  But I know how to work hard.  So I accepted the challenge.  I bought the sheet music for Felix Mendelssohn's Wedding March and practiced my heart out.  It's not just as simple as playing the piece beginning to end, you have to modify the music on the fly to account for the time it takes the bride to walk down the aisle.  But Lori Lee (my piano teacher) helped me figure all that stuff out.  It was great.

When I was 13 I got to play the piano for my cousin Mindy's wedding.  She has a professional musician for the evening but wanted me to play when she walked down the aisle.  The "professional" guy was a jerk to me and kept telling me that he could do it and he didn't need my help (duh!).  But Mindy really wanted to include her family - so in yo' face music guy!

When I was 14 my cousins Natalie and Meagan both got married on my birthday!  Meagan asked me to play for her while she walked down the aisle/staircase thing.  She didn't want the Wedding March so I ended up playing a pretty New Age song.  Side Note: after Natalie's wedding reception she took the top off her wedding cake and put candles in it and they all sang happy birthday to me!  How amazingly awesome is that?!?!  The top of her cake!  I felt so special!

Then a few years later when my dad was a Bishop he was performing a wedding and they asked me to play the wedding march for them.  I can't remember many of the details (like who it was, when it was, or how it went).  Which isn't really surprising since I hardly remember anything anymore - hence the blogging.

Now confession time... in addition to playing the wedding march you need to play a song while the bridesmaids walk down the aisle.  I don't remember what I did for the last wedding, for Meagan's it was a New Age song - no worries there, for Mindy's wedding the jerk guy played while the bridesmaids walked down the aisle... which brings us back to Deon's wedding.  Now remember I was only 12 years old.   I remember my cousin Mitchell bit my shoulder during the reception and I started crying.  So ya, I was young.  I had only been playing the piano for 4 years and my repertoire of songs was pretty thin.  I needed a song that was nice but also had a beat so that they could do the famous bridesmaid's walk (step-together-step-together).  Plus it needed to be in the same key signature as the Wedding March because I didn't know how to transition back then.  AND since I was stressed about performing a new song (Wedding March) it was important to pick one I already knew to minimize the pressure.  Soooooooo with all that taken into account guess what song I played?  Deon's bridesmaids waltzed down the aisle to "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" from Hymns Made Easy!!!!!!!!!!!  To this day I bet she has no idea (unless she comes across this blog post).  There was one other LDS family at the wedding and I remember they came up to me after and told me that I did a great job and they especially liked my song selection! ;-)

But guess what!?!  I have ANOTHER embarrassing story about the same hymn!  This time Jake's in the hot seat.  The first year we lived in Connecticut Jake and I taught early morning seminary.  So we were always tired.  Well this one Sunday morning was no exception.  It happened to be the Primary program that day and while the darling kids recited their well-rehearsed lines Jake started to doze off.  Well, the Primary started singing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" I don't know what startled Jake awake but in his groggy state he must have thought it was the closing song or something because he started singing along!  It was only a few words before I realized what was going on and stopped him.  Even thinking about it right now has me laughing out loud!  Jake sitting in the audience belting out words along with the Primary: "to guide us in these latter days..."

Needless to say I always have a little chuckle when Hymn 19 is on the program!

Bad Habits

Scarlett has developed a few bad habits...

Man Made Rocks

Scarlett loves rocks.  Well the other day we were taking a shower and at the end I realized she had somehow snuck a bunch of rocks into the shower.  They weren't rocks.

Vamp Girl

When Jake picked up Scarlett from nursery today, he found out that she had bit a little girl!!!?!?!?!?!!  She bit me awhile ago, but I thought that the biting phase was over.  I would love any tips you have for biters!   I've heard of people biting their kids back to show them that it hurts, I'm not sure how that works when the only time she bites is when we're not around...???

Sharing Time?  Never!

Even when she and I are the only people home, she still doesn't like to share her strollers.  She uses one to push the other.  They often get tangled up - her response is to scream and cry til I fix it.  We're also working on that.

Slow Eater

When I first started dating Jake I was shocked at how long it took him to eat.  In the time it took him to eat a meal I would finish my dinner, do the dishes, check my facebook, and knit a sweater.  Well, he's overcome that habit (mostly from all my nagging) but apparently it's a genetic trait.  Scarlett takes FOREVER to eat.  In fact, the other day she took so long to eat her juicy apple slices that her fingers were pruney by the end!

Speaking of genetic traits, I've noticed that when she's falling asleep she tugs on her eyelashes and tries to pull them out.  Something that her Grumple does when he's stressed...

Mommy's Fault

I realize that not all of her habits are 100% from her creative toddler mind.  Several of her habits I think are my fault.  Like watching too much tv.  Notice I am taking this picture while I lay on the couch - I know, I've already written my "Mommy of the Year" speech.  Hey, at least she's taking notes!

Also, from the looks of these pictures it seems like she's always running around in a diaper.  Which is not the case.  Sort of.  This actually leads me to my final habit...

Diaper Pocket..

So occasionally when I change Scarlett's diaper I find little treasures that she's stowed in her "diaper pocket".  Tonight we were delighted with these little gems:

Which actually come from a cute game idea someone told us about (probably from Pinterest).  I cut a hole in a container lid then burned the edges so it was smooth.  She really likes putting all the little puffs away!  So simple but so fun!

Well, Jake and I were watching TV (I know, I know, TV is the devil, blah blah blah) and noticed Scarlett using her diaper pocket.  Luckily my phone was right next to me so I was able to capture this on film.  (It was dark so I had to use my camera light - so sorry it kind of washes her out)

Ciro's Baptism

Last Saturday our new friend Ciro became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  And he asked Jake to baptize him!  What an honor!  The spirit was so strong during the meeting!  We are so proud of Ciro and his commitment to our Heavenly Father.  Afterward we had a great time getting to know his awesome parents and his adorable girlfriend!  What a great day! 

Ciro & Jake

Mosiah 18: 8-10 

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Sister Holmes, me, & Sister Walker (who grew up real close to my cousins in Lehi!)

2 Nephi 31:19-20

And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Sam 1 & Sam 2

Sam 1: Samsung

Recently I pointed out to Jake that our TV was taking forever to boot up.  Then on Friday - it decided not to turn on at all.  EEEEK!  Luckily Jake was able to figure out that it was due to recalled capacitors and that Samsung would send someone to fix it for free ($400 problem).  The TV guy came today and everything's all hunkydory.  But man - just 3 days without TV was an eye-opener.  I didn't realize how much I depend on that silly little box.  Scarlett and I watch it when she wakes up too early.  Jake and I watch it to unwind in the evening.  Then lots of watching in between.  It was kind of nice to have a little break that forced us to actually spend time as a family.  But I'm glad to have it back.  And yesterday Scarlett brought the remote control over to me while I was cooking - so I know she's glad too.

Sam 2: Sam's Club

Last week I made a little quiet book for Scarlett.  I printed a bunch of 4x6s with pictures from LDS.org.  I decided to print them at Sam's Club cause they have great prices, so I submitted them on their website.  A few min later a lady from their photo department called me and asked if I had the copyright for these pictures ?!?!  I quickly looked up the copyright info on the Church's website and read it to her.  She said that Walmart/Sam's Club takes the copyright law VERY seriously and they wouldn't be able to print them for me.  I told her that I totally understood and that I know that it's not her decision, she's just following policy.  At the end of our phone call she told me she was very surprised that I didn't yell and scream at her.  She had the manager all ready to go just in case.  Most of the time people are quite rude about the whole situation.

I don't tell this story to give myself kuddos for being nice, cause let's be honest - she caught me on a good day.  But it really made me think about how as members of the Church, we really are being watched at all times.  How hypocritical would it have been to yell at scream about printing pictures of Jesus?  I don't know why this little phone call has affected me so much but I really have been thinking about it a lot.  Am I representing myself as a Daughter of God in all times, in all things and in all places?  I know I can do better - especially while driving.  Though, we just got Michigan plates for the Durango so Jake said until we get a BYU sticker we can drive however we want ;-).  But seriously, I'm grateful for the little 'wake up calls' Heavenly Father sends me.  This week I've been really conscious of how I treat others.  Because we're all children of God.